Carl F. Payson

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Carl F. Payson, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Cierges, northeast of Chateau-Thierry, France, on August 1, 1918. During the attack made by the company on the village of Cierges, Sergeant Payson was mortally wounded in the head by a machine-gun bullet. He succeeded in keeping on his feet, however, and with the attacking wave, encouraged them, and by his strong will power he instilled in them all the spirit of fearlessness.